Switch for electric-light sockets.



C. D. GE'RVIN.

SWITCH FORELEGTRIG LIGHT SOCKET? Patented Aug. 16, '1910.

nnnnnnn un CHARLES D. GERVIN,

OF` NEW YORK, N. Y.

SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC-LIGHT SOCK-ETS.

Specification' of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 1G, 1910.

Application led October 28,1909. Serial No. 525,023.

'1 o aZZwLo/m it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, CHARLES D. GERVIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Switch for Electric-Light Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.-

The object of the invention is to provide a new and limproved switch for electric light sockets, arranged to permit convenient manipulating .of the switch for lighting and eX- tinguishing purposes on successively pulling av flexible, depending, actuating means connected with theA operating lever of the switch.

For the purpose mentioned oppositely-dis posed fixed contact plates are adapted to be engaged and disengaged by the terminals ot' a'switch arm held on a shaft provided with a spring-pressed ratchet lever, capable ot turning the shaft when moved in one direc-v tion and loosely turning on the shaft in the reverse direction by the action oit its spring. A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accon'ipanying drawings 'forming apart ot' this specification in which similar lcharacters of reference indicate correspondingparte in all the views.

Figure l is a persp. Jtive view of the switch as applied; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of `the switch partly disengaged from the socket, the cap of which is removed; Fig.

l-is a sectional side elevation of the switch;

Fig. l is a sectional plan view of the stime on the line fl-4t of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective viewof the actuating lever for the switch.

The spaced blocks A, A', of insulating material and forming part ott" the framework for the switch, are connected with each other by the metallic brackets B, B', terminating at the top of the lower block A in Fixed contact plates B2, B3, adapted to be engaged and disengaged by the ends of a switch arm C on a vertically-disposed shaft D, journaledin the blocks A, A', as plainly indicated in Fig. 2l. The contact plate Bf is connected witha threaded sleeve E secured to the under side oi the block A, and the l contact pla-te B2 is 4connected with a tongue lll projecting into the sleeve E, in the usual manner, as indicated in Fig. 8. The shaft l is provided between its ends with the extends from the operating lever F through N a guideway A2 formed on the peripheral :tace of the block A, the said chain then passing through a guide H formed in t-he socket H in which the blocks A, A are fas-4 tened in the usual manner. The eye F of theA operating lever Fis split, asplainly indicated in Fig.l 4, and one end of the eye forms an integral` spring pawl F2, engaging successively the sides of the polygonal'poih.

tion D2, so that when the operating lever F is 'swung in the direction of the arrow a, the pawl F 2 turns the shaft D so as to move the switch arm C in and out ot' engagement with the contact plates 'B2 and B3. A spring I is lixed at one end and engages with its other end the operating lever F, so as to return the latter, on the operator releasing the pull on the chain G, the pawl F2 during its return movement gliding over the corre` spending adjacent faces ot' the polygonal portion D2 without turning the shaft D.

The polygonal portion D2 is engaged between the arms of a U-shaped spring J, held on the under side of" the block A, thus preventing return movement of the shaft D at the time the lever F is on its return swinging movement. Stops K and K attached to the under side of the block A serve to limit. the forward and return the operating lever F. The eye F extends between the washers L and-L', of which the washer L is attached to the polygonal portion D2 oi' the shaft'D, is held on the polygonal portion D', and is seated on the upper and of aspring N, pressing with its lower end-on the switch arm C, `so as to hold the latter in lit-1n contact with lthe contact plates B2 and B3, -of the switch arm C and the sides of the plates B2, B3 are slightly beveled, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2, to permiirthe switch arm C to readily move into engagement with the .upper faces of the plates B2, B3 on turning swinging motion of while the washer L The free ends the chain Gr and actuating the lever F.

. returns to When the several parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, and the switch is inactive, then the operating lever F rests on the stop K, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Now in case the switch arm C is in contact with the contact plates B2, B3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and lamp is lighted, and if it is desired to extinguish the light, the operator' pulls on the chain Gr to impart a swlnging motion to the lever ,I which by its pawl F2 now gives a quarter turn to the shaft D, and as the'switch arm it moves out of engagement with the contact plates B2, B3 and into the inactive position shown in Fig. 4, it being understood thatas soon as the switch arm C moves out of contact with the contact plates B2, B3, the electric current of the lamp is broken and the light extinguished. As soon as the operator releases the pull on the chain G, the operating-lever F swings back to its normal position of rest on the stop K by the action of the spring I. When it is desired to light the lamp, the operator again pulls the chain G, to impartanother forward swinging motion to the lever F, to `ive another 'quarter turn to the switch arm whereby the latter is moved into engagement with the plates B2, B3, to close the circuit for lighting the lamp. As soon as the operator releases the pull on the chain G, the operating lever F the stop K by the action of the springI.

The switch shown and described is very simple and durable in construction and the working parts are not liable easily to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A switch for electric light sockets, comprising ixed contacts, a switch arm adapted to alternately engage andvdisengage the said fixed contacts, a shaft mounted to turn and having a polygonal portion on which the v said switch arm-is mounted to turn with and to slide up and down, a spring pressing the said switch arm, an operating lever mounted to swing loosely on the said polygonal portion of the shaft and having a spring pawl in engagement with the sides of the said polygonal portion, and a spring for returning the said operating lever.

2. A switch for electric light sockets, comL prising xed contacts, a switch `arm adapted to alternately engage and disengage the said fixed contacts, ashaft mounted to turn and having a polygonal portion on which the said switcharm is mounted to turn with and to slide up and down, a spring pressing the said switch arm, an operating lever mounted to swing loosely on the said polygonal portion of the shaft and having a spring pawl C turns with the shaft D,

, shaft portion,

in engagement with theA sides of the said polygonal portion, .a spr' for returning the said operating lever, an stops for limiting the swinging motion ofthe said operating lever.

3. A switch for electric light sockets, coinprising fixed contacts, a switch arm adapted to alternately engage and disengage tthe said xed contacts, a shaft mounted to turn and having a polygonal portion on which the said switch arm is mounted to turn with and to slide up and down, an operatin lever mounted to swing on lthe said polygonal shaft portion and having an integral spring pawl engaging the sides of the polygone washers on the said shaft above and below the fulcrum end of the said operating lever, a spring fixed on one end and having its other end connected with the said operating lever, the spring having a coil intermediate its ends, and a coil spring interposed between the lowerwasher and the said switch arm.

4. A switch for electric light sockets, comprising fixed contacts, a switch arm adapted -to alternately engage and disengage the said fixed contacts, a shaft mounted to turn. and having a polygonal portion on which the said switch arm is mounted to turn with and to slide up and down, an operating lever mounted to swing on the said polygonal shaft portion and having an integral spring pawl engaging the sides of the polygonal shaft. portion, washers on the said shaft above and below the fulcrum end of the said operating lever, a spring fixed on one end and having its other end connected with the said operating lever, the sprin having 'a coil intermediate its ends, a coi? spring interposed between the lower washer and the said switch arm, and a U-shaped spring straddling the said polygonal portion of the shaft.

5. In a switch for electric light sockets, a switch arm"operating mechanism comprising a shaft carrying the switch arm and havinor a polygonal portion, and a spring-presse operating lever havin r an open eye through which extends the said polygonal shaft portion, one end of the eye forming an integral pawl in engagement with the sides of the polygonal shaft portion.

`6. In a switch for electric light sockets, an operating mechanism comprising a shaft carrying a switch arm and having a polygonal portion, and a spring pressed operating lever having a hooked portion loosely cn circling the polygonal portion, and an anglr lar lug on the opposite side ofthe said portion 'from the hooked portion for engaging the faces of the polygonal portion to rotate the shaft.

7. A switch for electric light sockets, comprising fixed contacts, a switch arm for connecting the contacts, a shaft carrying the switch arm and having a polygonal portion, and' a manually controlled lever having an eye loosely engaging the shaft, one of the ends of the eye having an angular portion 5 for engaging the faces of the polygonal portion to rotate the shaft.

In testimony' whereof I have signed iny name to this specification in the presence of 'two Subscribing' Witnesses.

WHARLES D GERVIN.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. Hoeren, JOHN P. DAVIS. 

